There have been a range of reactions to our news last week, and some confusion. So I thought I’d take a shot at answering some of the most frequent questions. I will update this post as information is made available.

First, I’d like to reiterate an important point. Regardless of what happens in the coming days and weeks, we are committed to maintaining our status as the #1 PC business in the industry.

And now to your questions…

Are you exiting the PC business?No. Whether the company is spun off, sold or kept in the HP portfolio, the team here remains committed to creating and supporting great products and services for customers like you all over the world. Read more on the size and scope of the PSG business here.

Can I buy an HP PC with confidence?Absolutely. We are the world’s largest PC manufacturer and, whatever structure we ultimately take, we plan to continue delivering innovative products and stand by you. That means more great products to come, continued service and support – all the things you’ve told us you value.

What do your executives think?Excited. Our leadership team – indeed, all of us in the Personal Systems Group – have helped HP become the world’s #1 PC company. We take great pride that customers like you choose HP products more often than you choose any other vendors’ PC. Under Todd Bradley’s leadership, we have built a leading PC business that ships more units, delivers more revenues and serves more customers than any other in the PC category. Todd has clearly and publicly stated that he is committed to our PC business.

If I buy, or have recently bought, an HP computer will you still honor the warranty?Yes. We absolutely stand by our PC products and will continue to honor all warranties and provide support as you need it.

What will happen to webOS?We are looking at other ways to leverage the webOS operating system and increase the number of webOS applications. Read webOS developer relations VP Richard Kerris’s blog post for more information.

I haven’t been able to find a TouchPad since you announced the price reduction last week. What’s happening?We had a great response to the new price and are now temporarily out of stock on hp.com and at many local retailers. We will have more available shortly. Please keep an eye on www.hp.com/go/touchpad-availability. We will have a link up soon where you can subscribe to be notified when these products are back in inventory.

If I buy a TouchPad, will HP provide service and support?Yes. We are fully committed to providing support and service of customers who purchased webOS devices. We will honor our product warranties and will continue to provide support via services like the webOS Butler, our free setup support service available to all purchasers of HP webOS products for the first 90 days after purchase. We expect that HP TouchPad owners can look forward to an over-the-air update that will enhance the platform and add functionality and a growing applications catalog.

Mark Budgell

Mark Budgell (@MarkatHP) is Editor-in-Chief of The Next Bench and a Social Media Strategist.

Who thought it was a good idea to release the Veer and the TouchPad before the Pre3? The Pre3 was the product people actually would have been excited about. Knowing that one will have to wait at least another year or more (or forever) for a new WebOS phone is extremely disappointing. Especially when the French, Germans, and Brits got a chance to buy them. You have shown a consistent inability to deliver on your promises throughout the entire WebOS experience. Why should any consumer think believe you will stand by what you have posted above?

Would you ever consider releasing an android version of the Touchpad? And aditionally If I have a touch pad will you issue additional updates for this product? or will you possibly issue a tutorial how to unlock the touch pad so we who counted on you and bought one of these orphaned devices can get some use out of it with another OS that has some apps?

[/Quote]Absolutely. We are the world’s largest PC manufacturer and, whatever structure we ultimately take, we plan to continue delivering innovative products and stand by you. That means more great products to come, continued service and support – all the things you’ve told us you value.[/Quote]

I am an HP Evangelist and recently I have had the most horrible time with HP Service on a HP Notebook with an extended care pack. The original case was opened in May and as of today it is still unresolved. The original unit had thermal issues and was originall scheduled to be repaired when HP Research requested that I allow them to replace the unit. The replacement unit randomly locks and and was sent in for repair and then repaired again at my house and the issue still occurs. The Executive Case Manager wants to replace the unit but needs permission from someone at the corporate office but cannot seem to get a response to her email messages. The notebook in question is HP's Flagship Envy 17 3D with a three year carepack including accidental damage protection. Any suggestions on what I can do to get this issue resolved?

I have been a fan of both HP and Palm. We use HP printers at my practice and I have had a Palm device in my pocket since I was a pediatric intern in 2000. I was disheartened to hear about WebOS's questionable future. I was beginning to see some signs of hope. There was better marketing and advertisement of WebOS devices. The earlier original Palm Pre ads were confusing and nonspecific. They didn't show the true potential of WebOS with EASY multitasking and Synergy. Also, the collaboration with WebOS Internals was key. The speed and functionality of the early Pre and Pre Plus were greatly enhanced by those guys. I don't think I could use my Pre Plus without Uberkernal and Govnah. The hardware needed to be much, much faster to expose the true power of its multitasking.

Why do I belabor MULTITASKING? Because it is where HP and WebOS has everyone beat. And you guys need to be selling it more. Think early "I'm an Apple and I'm a PC" commercials. They compared and contrasted the differences in USER EXPERIENCES with those products. Now HP should do the same. Don't be trying to sell a ton of features in one commercial. Sell only one or two features in each commercial. However, roll out a new commercial every couple months covering a new couple features. That way viewers aren't overloaded and HP devices don't blend into all the others. That ePrint commercial with the baby in the stroller was brilliant. It got people talking about the ad in the office. Keep it up.

I have the same experience as Cybersquire, months of trying to get their new wifi mouse to work on a new computer. The Case manage and executive give me a runaround demanding proof where I bought it and I have sent it to them. The exact copy of the order and a shipping document. The problem is that it did not have the correct wiFi Card and it needs to be replaced. One Mouse works fine and the other never pairs properly. When it does it has to be paired again in a few days. I hooked up a good old reliable Logitech and put the other crappy mouse away. $50.00 wasted. All they needed to do was send me a new Card. I was told I could buy one. Why for a Computer under warranty.

I have 3 HP/CQ Notebooks, 1 Fax Machine and 3 Desktops. Have used CQ and HP for 10 years. This will be my last HP. I will go back to Toshiba and probably won't buy another Desktop.